21 



Mealies and the larger, crops stand best. Where high winds 

 arc to be expected, this species of silo should not be built 

 very high. The precautions mentioned in dealing with the 

 filling of pit silos are applicable to this system also. 



When the stack is completed it should be peak-shaped. 

 Over the stack, at a distance of every three or four feet, is 

 thrown a piece of ordinary plain fencing wire, to each end 

 of which, some distance from the ground, weights are at- 

 tached. Large stones, bags or tins filled with earth, stones, 

 etc., are used. On the top, above the wires, a thatching of 

 some kind should be made. 



Some ^'armers practise building a forage stack upon the 

 top of die silo stack. 



A method which appeals to one on account of its sim- 

 plicity and efficiency consists of building the stack on 

 lengths of wood 6 feet by (> ins., sunk into the ground every 

 three or four feet apart along the length of stack, so that 

 both on ds project two feet on either side. Then, instead 

 of weighting the wires as previously recommended, one end 

 of a wire is attached to one of the beams, throwru over the 

 stack and the wire tightened through the other projecting 

 end of the same beam, in the same way as is done in tighten- 

 ing a fence. We have seen a Spanish windlass used, but 

 there are many ways of getting the wires tight. 



We have seen at Home splendid stuff produced by means 

 of a patent Stack Press. The principle is somewhat the 

 <amo as in the preceding kind, with this difference, that 

 at both ends of each projecting beam is fixed a ratchet 

 drum through which, by means of levers, the wire ropes, 

 which pass over the stack, are tightened. To prevent those 

 beams from being pulled up into the silage, it is advised that 

 some pieces of wood should be placed across the framework 

 of beams. Those appliances are sold in Britain at a reason- 

 able price, but in so far as our knowledge goes no agency 

 exists as yet in South Africa for their sale. This is a pity, 

 for of all the methods used for the making of stack silage 

 those employing special mechanical appliances are the most 

 easily handled and, therefore, are most likely to give best 

 results. 



In using the silage from a stack, one wire or rope should 

 be removed nearest to an end, and the silage cut down as 

 required the full breadth, so that none is left behind which 

 will be without pressure. 



The general advantages and disadvantages of stack silo- 

 ing are : 



The advantages : 



(1) No building is necessary and the framework and 

 contrivances are easily obtainable and inex- 

 pensive. 



